Well system



Sep. 13, 1966 H, A. TUBES 3,272,131

WELL SYSTEM Filed April 22, 1964 H TTONE'Y United States Patent O3,272,131 WELL SYSTEM Howard A. Tubbs, 32 Corte Nogel, Danville, Calif.Filed Apr. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 361,755 7 Claims. (Cl. 10S-6) Theinvention relates to well systems of the type normally used in supplyingwater in rural areas for domestic or commercial purposes.

The invention further relates to the method of priming the storage tankof such a well system. Priming of the storage tank referred t-ohereinafter is defined as the process of building up the pressure withinthe storage tank `from atmospheric or zero to the desired range whilealso accomplishing the desired water level to be maintained in the tankfor normal operation.

In particular, the invention relates to the type of well systememploying a pressurized storage tank in which an air volume control isutilized for releasing excess air from within the tank as desired. In asystem of this type a charge of air is introduced into the water storagetank in each cycle of pump operation and a control device is necessaryto effect a discharge of excess air.

The pumping device most commonly used in this type of well system would'be of the submersible type wherein the pump is located within the wellcasing and the pump together with its motor is suspended from a drop orfeed pipe which delivers the water from within the well casing to thestorage tank.

In a system of this type the air volume control most commonly usedincorporates a valve controlled by a float which responds to thecondition of the water level in the storage tank. In pumping systemsemploying pressure ranges between 20 lbs. and 40 lbs., the weight of thetoat and the size or the valve, which it controls, does n-ot present anyundue problems, however, where the pressure range is increased to -a 40lbs. to 60 lbs. system, problems arise with reference to the weight ofthe float and the size of the valve which it controls. The problems areenhanced ybecause such a well system, when initially installed, most gothrough a virgin cycle of pump operation in which the pressure withinthe storage tank is zero- (atmospheric).

The principal object of the invention is to provide a well system inwhich the problems are minimized where the higher pressure ranges lareinvolved.

A further object is to provide a well system in which an air volumecontrol can be installed in a storage tank having a side wall openingfor mounting the control.

A further object is to provide an air volume control `for mounting in atank side wall opening wherein the control oat assembly can be of thevertical type and Icompletely assembled prior to inserti-on through thetank opening.

A further object is to provide la tank wall {fitting for use with avertical type air volume control in which `the iitting provides =forc-ontinuous exposure of tank pressure to a pressure responsive switchmounted exteriorly of the tank while also providing a discharge passage,.controlled by the air volume control, so as to have intermittentexposure to tank pressure.

A `further object is to provide an air volume control with an improvedvalve `assembly which functions more satisfactorily than prior artdevices.

A further speciiic object is to provide in an air volume control a floatwhich utilizes the water within the storage tank for establishing itsweight characteristics.

A `further object is to provide an air volume control in which the iloatcan employ a variable weight as desired. With this type of lloat alarger size valve opening can be utilized.

3,272,13l Patented Sept. 13, 1966 ICC A further object is to provide anair v-olume control of the type which is generally improved over priorart types of controls.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from theensuing specification and appended drawing in which:

FIGURE y1 is a schematic view of one type of well system and the airvolume control employed therewith.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view of a portionof the system of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the lfloat assembly ofthe air volume control employed in the system of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of the upper portion of theair volume control taken in the direction indicated rby line 4-4 ofFIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional detail plan view of the discharge endof the air volume control and taken on the line 5-'5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is 'an enlarged sectional detail view taken on line 46-6 ofFIGURE 1 with tank wall removed.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view of a portionof the air discharge valve.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the insert whichprovides the valve sea-t and discharge passage.

The type of Well system shown in FIGURE 1 includes the well casing A,which in practice would -be m-ade up of sections of pipe securedtogether to 'form a continuous pipe extending down into the ground to adepth sufficient to encounter the source of water. The well casingnormally has a common inside diameter throughout its length tolaccommodate the pump and motor uni-t B which is submerged at all timesbelow Water level within the casing. The pump and motor unit issuspended from the drop pipe C which, of course, is yformed of sectionsconnected together so as to extend throughout the length of the wellcasing continuously. The upper end of the drop pipe is connected to acoupling D from whence the water enters the storage tank E and is`dispensed into the house or other place of usage through the dischargepipe F (only a portion of Lwhich is shown). Suitable electric wiring Gleads from the source of electricity (n-ot shown) into the interior ofthe well casing and on down through the well casing to the pump andmotor unit. A pressure switch H of conventional construction isresponsive to the air pressure within the storage tank for automaticallycontrolling the operation of the pump and motor unit.

The coupling D may be of conventional construction, such as, forexample, of the type shown in tPatent No. 2,918,972. The water thustravels up through the drop or feed pipe C tfrom the pump land motorunit through the couplin-g D and thence through the water transfer pipe10 into the interior of the storage tank E.

It is necessary to introduce air into the interior of the storage tankas needed to provide a suitable air cushion above the water level in thetank for pressurizing the system and this air Iis introduced into thetank through appropriate bleeders 11 and 12 in a manner to be explainedhereinafter. Excess air is discharged yfrom the -tank to atmospherethrough the elongated air discharge conduit tubing 13 and the Iultimatedischarge passage d4 (see FIGURE 5).

As heretofore mentioned the air which is added into the tank enters anopening 15 at `the upper end olf casing section 16 and thence travelsdown through the interior of casing A to the -bleeders 11 and 12. Whenthe pump is operating, water is being delivered up through the drop pipeand into the interior of the storage tank until the pressure switchopens the electrical circuit to the pump motor. Then when the pumpceases operating, a

one way chec-k valve 18 prevents 4the water in the storage tank fromrunning 'back down through the drop pipe, however, the receding of `therwater fwithin the drop pipe below the check valve 18 causes a suctioncondition to commence building up within the drop pipe (see FIG- URE 2)between the `check valve 18 and the upper bleeder 11. The ball 19 lwillbe sucked over against the inner end of the chamber within the bleederhousing, as shown in FIGURE 2. The passage a at the inner end of thebleeder housing chamber permits entry of air into the interior of thedrop pipe C even though the ball 19 is in the inward position as .shownin FIGURE 2. Air commences entering the drop pipe through passage 20aeven though there is still a column of water in the drop pipe betweenthe ycheck valve A18 and upper bleeder 11. When the water in the droppipe recedes to the level of passage 20a, then it recedes considerablymore rapidly (while draining o-ut through the lower bleeder 12) untilthe `water level reaches the bleeder 12. The column of water in the droppipe C remains 4at the level of bleeder112 (due to check valve 23 beingclosed) pending the next operation of the pump. The check valve 23 maybe of the same general construction as the check valve 18 and thebleeder 12 may be of the same general construction as the bleeder 11.The check valves and bleeders are of conventional construction.

Thus, with a column of air supplied within the drop pipe, when the pumpnext operates, a change of air is pushed through the check valve '18 andon into the storage tank ahead o-f the column of Water coming up throughthe drop pipe. When the pump forces the column of water up through thedrop pipe, the interior of said pipe becomes pressurized lcausing theballs in the bleeders 11 and l12 to move outwardly against the valveseat 20 in bleeder 11 and the comparable valve seat in bleeder 12,thereby closing off .passage 22 in bleeder ,11 and the comparablepassage in bleeder `1,2. As has been previously explained, if too muchair is int-roduced into the storage tank, the excess will be expelledout through the tubing 13 and discharge passage 14 by operation of theair volume control. It will be understood that air may be added Vintothe storage tank (under inducement of pump operation) through some meansother than with bleeders 11 and 12, 'for example, a small compressor canhave its outlet dischange communicating directly with the interior ofthe storage tank while being electrically interlocked with the pressureresponsive switch H so as to add air into the interior -of the tankwhenever the pressure switch activates the pump. I prefer to disclosethe conventional bleeder type of air inlet apparatus as shown in FIG-URES 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, I have sholwn the valve and float assemblyportion of the air volume control in detail. It includes a cylindricalelongated outer casing or sleeve 25 of tubular construction having vinwardly crimped stops 26 at the open end 27. The other end of thesleeve is telescopically mounted on the annular shoulder 28 of thefitting 29. The casing or sleeve is anchored to such fitting as by meansof a suitafble adhesive. The fitting has an externally threaded end 30.which is threaded into the hollow coupling 31. The upper end of thecoupling has a diametrically reduced bore (as shown in dotted lines at31a in FIGURE 4) into which the lower end of tubing 13 is secured. Thefitting 29 has an axial bore 32 which communicates with a restrictedpassage 33 which terminates at the valve seat 34. Under some conditionsit may be desirable to eliminate the coupling 31 in which -case the bore`32 in fitting 29 is of the proper diameter to receive the lower end oftubing 13 which is then cemented therein as by use of a suitableadhesive. In this type of construction, the float assembly ispermanently connected to the tubing 13, whereas, such is not the casewhen coupling 31 is employed. The use of the coupling facilitatespackaging and shipping since the oat assembly can be separate from thetubing 13 for packaging and shipping purposes.

Referring to FIGURES 3, 7 and 8, the valve seat and passage may be inthe form of an insert (identified generally by the numeral 36) which issecured within a suitable bore formed in the fitting boss 37. The insertinsures a valve `seat 34 of uniform quality (under volume productionconditions) for coacting with the valve face 38 to prevent air leakagewhen the valve is closed. In a typical domestic water system with a40-60 lb. tank pressure range, the inside diameter of passage 33 may beapproximaely .0468 inch so as to function acceptably with a ioat 39 ofthe length and diameter as shown in FIGURE 3. Thus, the insert shown indetail in FIGURE 8 is approximately four times actual size.

The float and weight assembly 39 includes a cylindrical shell or casingportion 43 closed off at its lower end by means of a circular cap 42which is secured thereto as by means of -a suitable adhesive. A similarcircular cap 44 closes off the upper end of the shell 43 and also servesas a mounting for the lower end of a cylindrical casing portion 46 whichforms the upper end portion of the float and weight assembly. The casingportion 46 is closed off at its upper end with a circular cap 47(similar to caps 42 and 44). Thus, the upper end of the float and weightassembly is provided with a closed chamber 51 with air trapped thereinbetween the circular partition walls 52 and 53. The inwardly convergingstops 26 of casing 25 prevents the float and weight assembly fromdropping out of the casing.

The cap member 47 at the upper end of the float has an annular flange 55which defines a cylindrical pocket into which the annular base portion56 of the valve block is secured. The valve block may be formed ofrubber (or other elastic material having the characteristics of rubber)and the hardness thereof may be such as to effect a durometer reading inthe 40 or 45 range. A block of the type shown, if molded of rubber, w1l1have a hardness as indicated immediately above and thus to effect bettervalve closing action, I prefer to provide the block with a hollowinterior which results in a valve seat wall 57 having a thickness ofabout 1/16 of an inch. The fiexibility of such a valve seat wall affordsbetter Valve closing and opening action between the valve face 38 andvalve seat 34. In fact, the behavoir of wall 57 is such that valvingaction would be comparable to that afforded by a rubber valve seat inwhich hardness thereof would be in the range of a 10 or l5 durometerreading. Ihave provided openings 59 in the valve block wall so that thehollow interior 60 thereof will be pressurized in accordance with thepressure conditions inside of the tank E. Thus, any tendency of thevalve block to become dislodged from the cap 47, is materially lessenedand during initial installation of the base portion of the Valve blockinto the pocket defined by annular flange 55, there will be no trappingof air within the pocket so as to interfere with such installation-suchair being immediately expelled through openings 59, thereby permittingthe under surface of the valve block to seat snugly against the uppersurface of the partition wall 53 of the cap member 47.

The casing 25 has openings 62 near the upper end thereof to prevent anypressure build up within the casing 25 when the water in the storagetank is rising in the interior thereof. The casing section 43 hasopenings 63 `in its wall to permit entry of water into the chamber 64which is provided by the casing section 43 thereby providing the weightas desired. A pocket 65 exists within the casing 43 above the level ofthe openings 63 for reasons to be presented hereinafter. During thevirgin cycle of the operation of the pump, the air pressure within thetank is zero or atmospheric. As the water level in the tank rises theweight portion of the fioat and weight assembly will be resting in thebottom of the shell 25 against the stops 26. The valve is open and asmall amount of air is escaping through passage 33, bore 32,

discharge tubing 13 and discharge passage 14. The chamber 64 is filledwith air and hence the weight and float assembly is in its condition oflightest weight and will be of such buoyancy as to augment closing offthe valve face 38 against the valve seat 34 at an early time during therisin-g of the water level in the storage tank. That is, the iloat willclose olf the valve before the water level in the tank reaches openings63. Thus, the escape of air through passage 33 will be cut off at anearly stage during rising water level, thereby permitting a more rapidpressurizing Iof the interior of the storage tank.

As the water level rises in the tank above the level of openings 63, thechamber 64 commences iilling with water thereby adding additional weightto the Weight. The valve will, however, remain closed since the waterlevel in the storage tank is common with the water level inside of theweight, the specic gravity of such water bein-g constant. Since the airpressure in the tank was at zero, the water will continue rising in thetank to an abnormally high level before the tank pressure reaches 60lbs. Several cycles of operation of the pump may be needed before anadequate quantity of air is trapped within the tank to complete thepriming process. In other words, the rst cycle of operation of the pumpmay result in the water level reaching a height in the tank such thatthe valve will remain closed through several subsequent cycles of operation of the pump. Thus, a new quantity of air is being added into thetank each time the pump operates without any air being expelled from thetank. The water level in the tank keeps receding to a new level aftereach cycle of pump operation until the desired level for normaloperation is reached wherein the float operate-d valve will thenmaintain a substantially constant quantity of air in the tank. Thepriming process may then be considered completed.

With the priming process completed and the system operating as desired,then, whenever the pressure switch opens the electrical circuit, thepump will cease operating and subsequent usage of the water from thetank through discharge pipe F will cause the water level in the tank torecede until it drops below the openings 63. The water level within thechamber 64 will llikewise recede to the lowermost level of openings 63thereby tending to keep the valve closed slightly longer because of thedecrease of the weight within the weight chamber. The water within thechamber beneath the lowermost level of openings 63 is, however,permanently trapped and provides the necessary weighting of the weightfor subsequent valve opening and closing purposes. It will be understoodthat since the pressure inside of the tank exceeds the pressure withinpassage 33 (which is atmospheric). the valve will remain seated orclosed until the weight within chamber 64 is adequate to overcome theeffect of this pressure difterential. Thus, in a 40-60 lb. pumpingsystem, the minimum press-ure within the tank is 40 lbs. greater thanatmospheric (at 40 lbs. tank pressure, the pump commences operating andkeeps operating until the pressure within the tank reaches 6() lbs., -atwhich pressure the pump ceases operating and remains inoperative untiltank pressure drops to 40 lbs.). The dotted line J in FIGURE l isintended t-o indicate the approximate desired water level wherein pumpoperation would be imminent for adding more water into the tank.

An important objective is to provide a pumping system in which avertical type float operated valve assembly is employed with a side walltank opening. That is, in the type of tank show-n in FIGURE l, theinternally threaded annular boss or flange 68 (which provides access tothe tank interior) is mounted in the side wall 69 of the tank. In orderto utilize the vertical or upright type of iioat and valve assembly, Isuspend same from a supporting tube 13 which is formed with a generallygooseneck type configuration as is apparent when viewing 6 FIGURE 1.Thus, the ultimate position of height which the float assembly assumeswithin the tank interior is rather accurately determined beforehand, asis desirable and necessary (since the height at which the float assemblyis maintained is determinative of the desired water level within thetank for normal operation). The gooseneck configuration of the tubing 13provides the desired length of air discharge route (from valve passage33 to discharge passage 14) while also providing adequate clearance topermit rotation of the entire float assembly within the tank interiorwhile fitting body 71 is being threaded on a horizontal axis into tankange 68. That is, the float assembly, tubing and fitting body 71 arepreassembled before installation in the storage tank-the diameter ofshell 25 being that it can be easily inserted through the tank openingprovided by mounting ange 68. As the fitting body is threaded into thetank flange, the tubing 13 and the oat assembly will be swung rotativelyabout the axis of the tting body and the gooseneck configuration of thetubing results in the desired limited diametric dimension of thecircular path described thereby. The gooseneck coniiguration of thetubing also permits use of a oat assembly of adequate length to function4properly when used with a storage tank having a side wall mountingflange which is situated at a standard height from the bottom of thetank (a height which is determined beforehand by the tank manufacturer)As an example of a typical storage tank installation, the insidediameter of the tank may be 14 inches. Thus, the circular path describedby the rotation of the tubing and float assembly must be less than 14inches in diameter in order to avoid Contact with the tank side wall. Byemploying the gooseneck shaped tubing, the lower end of casing 25 can besituated a distance radially from the axis of the tank tting body 71 ofabout 6% to 61/2 inches, thereby describing a circular path of 13 inchesin diameter or less, which of course is less than the inside diameter ofthe tank. Additionally, the gooseneck shape of the tubing permits thehorizontal insertion of the casing 25 (the diameter of which is slightlyless than 1% inches) through a standard 1% inch tank wall openingwithout incurring any binding condition when the casing 25 is swung fromhorizontal to vertical position as desired.

Referring to FIGURE 6, I have shown an end view of the tting as seenfrom within the tankthe tank wall being omitted. The tting body has apocket 73 which serves to establish communication between the interiorof the tank and the pipe nipples 74 and 75 (which are situatedexteriorly of the tank). The pressure responsive switch H may be securedto the end of pipe nipple 74 so as to be continuously subjected tointernal tank pressure and a pressure gage (not shown) may be secured tothe end of pipe nipple 75 so as to continuously register the internaltank pressure. As an alternative construction (not shown in the drawing)the pocket 73 in the fitting body could be in the form of a bore ofconsiderably lesser cross sectional area than that of the pocket 73provided the bore communicates with the laterally extending bores intowhich the pipe nipples 74 and 75 are threaded.

The portion of the lifting body above the pocket 73 is provided with abore 77 into which the end portion 78 of tubing 13 is secured. A valvepassage 79 is normally closed off by a spring pressed ball valve 80. Theultimate air discharge passage 14 extends through the threaded plug 81against which the spring 82 reacts. The tension exerted by the spring onthe ball can be said to be nominal and the valve will be readily openedwhen the pressure within tubing 13 is a pound or so above atmospheric.The principal objective of the ball valve is to prevent the possibilityof contamination of the interior of the storage tank, such as wouldoccur in case of a flooded basement (or tank pit) if the flood waterrose above the level of the air discharge passage 14.

I claim:

1. A water pumping and storage apparatus comprising: a hollow casingextending down into the ground to the source of water; a water feed pipewithin the casing; a

vwater and air storage tank having top, bottom and side walls forreceiving the water from the feed pipe, said tank having an inlet incommunication with the feed pipe; pumping apparatus for pumping thewater from the source through the feed pipe and into the storage tank;means for admitting air into the storage tank during activation of thepumping apparatus and control means for expelling excessive air from thestorage tank, said last means including:

a fitting mounted in a side wall of the tank and having an air dischargepassage therein; a hollow air discharge conduit having its outer endconnected to the fitting and in communication with the air dischargepassage; a first valve member disposed within said tank and having apassage in communication with the inner end portion of said conduit; asecond valve member disposed within said tank; for coacting with thefirst valve member; a vertically disposed elongated sleeve disposedwithin said tank, a float having said second valve member mounted at theupper end thereof and with such float disposed within said sleeve forvertical movement therein in accordance with the change of water levelin the tank, said sleeve being suspended from the inner end of saidconduit and limiting the movement of said float and second valvetherein.

2. For use in a water supply system having a tank for receiving andstoring water under pressure and for discharging same for use, andhaving means for pumping water into said tank, and also having means foradmitting air into the tank and control means for expelling excessiveair from the tank, a device for controlling the discharge of excessiveair from the interior of the tank in accordance with the change of thelevel of the water within the tank, said device comprising: a fittingmounted in a side wall of the tank and having a discharge passagetherein opening exteriorly of the tank; an air discharge conduitdisposed within said tank and connected horizontally at its outer end tothe fitting and communicating with the discharge passage, a verticallydisposed elongated sleeve disposed within said tank, a oat disposedwithin said sleeve for vertical movement therein in accordance Iwith thechange of water level within the tank, a valve mounted at the upper endof said fioat and in communication with the inner end of said conduitfor opening or closing the inner end portion of said conduit withreference to the interior of the tank, said valve being constructed tobe activated by a change of water level in the tank, said conduit havinga gooseneck configuration between the fitting and the valve.

3. For use in a water supply system having a tank for receiving andstoring water under pressure and for discharging same for use, andhaving means for pumping water into said tank, and also having means foradmitting air into the tank and control means for expelling excessiveair from the tank, a device for controlling the discharge of excessiveair from the interior of the tank in accordance with the change of thelevel of the water within the tank, said device comprising: a fittingmounted in a side wall of the tank and having a discharge passagetherein opening exteriorly of the tank; an air discharge conduitdisposed within said tank and connected horizontally at its outer end tothe fitting and communicating with the discharge passage; a valve foropening or closing communication between the inner end portion of saidconduit and the interior of the tank; a vertically disposed elongatedsleeve disposed within said tank, a oat disposed within said sleeve andhaving said valve mounted at the upper float end and with said floatbeing movable substantially vertically within said sleeve in accordancewith the change of water level in the tank, said conduit having agooseneck configuration between the fitting and the valve so that theinner end of the conduit is substantially vertical.

4. For use in a water supply system having a tank for receiving andstoring water under pressure and for discharging same for use, andhaving means for pumping water into said tank, and also having means foradmitting air into the tank and control means for expelling excessiveair from the tank, a device for controlling the discharge of excessiveair from the interior of the tank in accordance with the change of thelevel of the water within the tank, said device comprising: a fittingmounted in a side wall of the tank and having a discharge passagetherein opening exteriorly of the tank; an air discharge conduitdisposed within said tank and connected at its outer end to the fittingand communicating with the discharge passage; a valve for opening orclosing communication between the interior of the conduit and theinterior of the tank; a vertically disposed elongated sleeve disposedwithin said tank, a float disposed within said sleeve and having saidvalve mounted at the upper float end and with said float being movablewithin said sleeve in accordance with change of water level in the tank;said fitting having a pocket therein in open communication with theinterior of the tank; and a pressure responsive device connected to thefitting exteriorly of the tank and in communication with the fittingpocket.

5. For use in a water supply system having a tank for receiving andstoring water under pressure and for discharging same for use, andhaving means for pumping water into said tank, and also having means foradmitting air into the tank and control means for expelling excessiveair from the tank, a device for controlling the discharge of excessiveair from the interior of the tank in accordance with the change of thelevel of the water within the tank, said device comprising: a fittingmounted on a horizontal axis in a side wall of the tank and having adischarge passage therein opening exteriorly of the tank; agooseneck-shaped air discharge conduit disposed within said tank andconnected horizontally at its outer end to the fitting and communicatingwith the discharge passage; a valve for opening or closing communicationbetween the interior of the conduit and the interior of the tank; avertically disposed elongated sleeve disposed within said tank, a floatdisposed within said sleeve and having said valve mounted at the upperfloat end and with said float being movable substantially verticallywithin said sleeve in accordance with the change of rwater level in thetank; said sleeve being suspended from the inner vertical end of saidconduit and limiting the range of movement of the float, the verticaldimension of the conduit and sleeve being such as to permit rotationthereof within the tank about the horizontal axis of the fitting duringinstallation of the fitting in the tank side wall.

6. For use in a water supply system having a tank for receiving andstoring water under pressure and for discharging same for use, andhaving means for pumping water into said tank, and also having means foradmitting air into the tank and control means for expelling excessiveair from the tank, a device for controlling the discharge of excessiveair from the interior of the tank in accordance with the change of thelevel of the water within the tank, said device comprising: a fittingmounted in the tank and having a discharge passage therein openingexteriorly of the tank; an air discharge conduit disposed within saidtank and connected at its outer end to the fitting and in communicationwith the discharge passage; a valve seat connected at the inner end ofsaid conduit; a valve member for coacting with the valve seat foropening or closing communication between the interior of the tank andthe interior of the conduit; a vertically disposed elongated sleevedisposed within said tank, a oat disposed within said sleeve and havingsaid valve member mounted at the upper iloat end and with said iloatbeing movable in accordance with the change of water level in the tank;means for limiting the range of movement of the valve member and tloat,said valve member being disposed at the upper end of the float and beingof elastic material and having a hollow chamber therein and an openingin a wall thereof to establish communication between the chamber and theinterior of the tank and a thin wall portion at the upper end of thechamber for engaging the valve seat.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the conduit is of gooseneckconfiguration between the tting and the rst valve member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Nelson et al103-6 Fagan 103-203 Patterson 103-6 Ortman 10S-6 Schmaus 137-209 Andrew103-6 Tubbs 103-6 Shelter 103-6 MARK NEWMAN, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY I. STOCKING, Examiner.

15 W. L. FREEH, Assistant Examiner.

1. A WATER PUMPING AND STORAGE APPARATUS COMPRISING: A HOLLOW CASINGEXTENDING DOWN INTO THE GROUND TO THE SOURCE OF WATER; A WATER FEED PIPEWITHIN THE CASING; A WATER AND AIR STORAGE TANK HAVING TOP, BOTTOM ANDSIDE WALLS FOR RECEIVING THE WATER FROM THE FEED PIPE, SAID TANK HAVINGAN INLET IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE FEED PIPE; PUMPING APPARATUS FORPUMPING THE WATER FROM THE SOURCE THROUGH THE FEED PIPE AND INTO THESTORAGE TANK; MEANS FOR ADMITTING AIR INTO THE STORAGE TANK; DURINGACTIVATION OF THE PUMPING APPARATUS AND CONTROL MEANS FOR EXPELLINGEXCESSIVE AIR FROM THE STORAGE TANK, SAID LAST MEANS INCLUDING: AFITTING MOUNTED IN A SIDE WALL OF THE TANK AND HAVING AN AIR DISCHARGEPASSAGE THEREIN; A HOLLOW AIR DISCHARGE CONDUIT HAVING ITS OUTER ENDCONNECTED TO THE FITTING AND IN COMMMUNICAITON WITH THE AIR DISCHARGEPASSAGE; A FIRST VALVE MEMBER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID TANK AND HAVING APASSAGE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INNER END PORTION OF SAID CONDUIT; ASECOND VALVE MEMBER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID TANK; FOR COACTING WITH THEFIRST VALVE MEMBER; A VERTICALLY DISPOSED ELONGATED SLEEVE DISPOSEDWITHIN SAID TANK, A FLOAT HAVING SAID SECOND VALVE MEMBER MOUNTED AT THEUPPER END THEREOF AND WITH SUCH FLOAT DISPOSED WITHIN SAID